News

School pick-ups plus car show equals downtown traffic jam

by
Emily West

It is estimated that about 7,500 people attending this year's last Hot August Nights car show of the summer. While many enjoyed the popular event Thursday, parents of students at nearby schools were not too happy with the road closures and traffic jams.

One parent said a typical 18-20 minute roundtrip to pick up kids at San Ramon Valley High School took an hour.

"Why on earth would someone plan a Hot Summer Night event on a school day?" the parent asked.

Another parent called it horrific, saying "the leisure activity of car buffs took priority over those of us doing the important job of transporting students."

The Town of Danville received many similar calls, according to Town Manager Joe Calabrigo. In his recollection, it was the first time the event had been scheduled during the school year. Last year, it was on the Thursday before the start of school the following Monday, he said.

The likely reason for the scheduling difference is that the last Hot August Nights is held before the start of the West Coast Nationals GoodGuys event, which runs today, Friday, Aug. 27 through Sunday, Aug. 29 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton.

In hindsight, Calabrigo said, it was clear that it wasn't possible to have the car show and road closures going on around the same time.

"We made efforts to reach out to at least some of the schools in the area, but it became pretty clear once parents started trying to get into the area to pick-up students that it was a problem," he said. "Because of the heat and the number of vehicles -- almost 500 cars entered into the show -- there were cars that were breaking down, further slowing the movement."

After each event, the Town staff will undergo a debriefing process to talk about what went well and how an event can be improved next time. Next year, if the car show can't precede the school year, Calabrigo said the time of the street closure will be pushed back further so that parents can get in and out of the area to do the pick-up.

Posted by Hal
a resident of another community
on Aug 27, 2010 at 4:44 pm

Dear Emily,

Thank YOU!

Many neighbors in their e-exchanges this afternoon expressed appreciation for your telling the rest of the story and specifically identifying that the Town of Danville knows the far-reaching affect of closing primary corridors. It certainly matters that neighborhoods and schools could not be accessed and it illustrates that it is critical not to have primary corridors closed to stage any event at any time.

With impact felt in Alamo, Diablo, Blackhawk, Dougherty Valley and San Ramon, such primary access closure must be ended and a better plan put in place. We were very fortunate that no police, fire or medical emergency occurred during the extensive closure.

More importantly, Hot Summer Nights brings non-resident attendance to Danville via our corridors leading to Danville. Unless a major benefit to town merchants can be illustrated, Danville simply cannot be considered host for such a specific audience.

ASK for the demographics of attendance and the sales volume among merchants, and then you will know if Hot Summer Nights is a rational venue for Danville.

Posted by Member
a resident of San Ramon Valley High School
on Aug 27, 2010 at 4:48 pm

whoever called it horrific should look at things in perspective of their life, they most likely do not have to do a whole alot except drive their kids back and forth. Except if the parent works, if the parents work then i could understand the frustration. But if this was a complaint by someone who just had to pick up a teenager at school, then that person should learn that everyone gets stuck in traffic and maybe they should understand that they are not above the hassles of real life.

I think the town did a good job admitting it was a mistake and it will not happen again.

Hopefully alternative locations will be found that are better suited to the event, without six schools Pre K thru 12 in the immediate area SRVHS, St Isidores, SRVCA, CPP , Vista Grande, Montair,not just teenagers.

Hot Summer Nights is one of the only profitable events that brings thousands of new people to Danville every year. For most restaurants and bars on Hartz ave, this event is the most important night of the year. With many vacant buildings on Hartz ave, Danville obviously is not the easiest place to run a business. Nobody would dare complain about the extensive traffic problems that are caused by the 4th of July parade no to mention the ridiculous scene that occurs the evening before. Get over it people!

Posted by Danville volunteer
a resident of Danville
on Aug 28, 2010 at 10:58 pm

Comparing Hot August Nights to the 4th of July parade is a joke.

The 4th of July parade draws 40,000+ to downtown, raises $30,000+ for local charities and school programs, happens on a holiday, and has extensive town and volunteer support (including web sites and publicity) to minimize the repercussions to local traffic.

Hot August Nights, on the other hand, is designed to help for-profit businesses, draws a smaller and less-local crowd, last longer than the 4th of July parade, causes MORE problems than it solves, and is an ego trip for car junkies with too much time on their hands.

Posted by Danville Resident
a resident of Danville
on Aug 30, 2010 at 7:46 am

Good Grief! City knew school schedule WELL before the scheduling of this event. School knew the scheduling of this event WELL before. There could easily have been simple communications to all parties effected. Typical School administration, and city administration living under ROCKS. The Left hand didn't know what the Right hand was doing. Small town government and small town school administration acting the part.
Grow Up "officials".

Posted by Store Owner
a resident of Danville
on Aug 30, 2010 at 7:56 am

For the record, and as addressed at a City Council Meeting; Hot Summer Nights is not for the retailers. We are ignored by the attendees. The restaurants probably benefit. In fact we close at the normal time. When those cars start rolling down the street at about 3:00. Our walk in traffic stops.

Posted by Sue in Danville
a resident of Danville
on Aug 30, 2010 at 8:22 am

It might be mentioned that this situation has not occured before because the school year didn't start as early in previous years. Yes, someone should have caught the conflict. The last Hot August Nights in Danville is designed to coordinate with the Good Guys West Coast Nationals in Pleasanton, because there are lots of cars in the area for that event to help bolster the cars on display in Danville. The calendar for next school year (2011-12) will be out around January 2011. It will be interesting to see when school starts next year and whether or not there will be a conflict of dates.

Like usual...everyone is overlooking an import comment made by Mr. Bailey..."we are very fortunate that NO emergency occurred during the extensive road closures". All your other comments are just axe grinding.

No matter how much you fine folks in Danville complain about the Hot August Night Event..your self appointed town council couldn't care less.

You fine folks of Danville are out numbered...Danville Town Council verses the citizens of Danville. A hand full dictating to the masses.

Posted by SRVHS Mom
a resident of San Ramon Valley High School
on Aug 30, 2010 at 10:50 am

Or how about asking our school district why school keeps starting earlier and earlier? School used to start right after Labor Day - a nice end to summer. Then it started the week before Labor Day. Now it is starting TWO WEEKS before Labor Day? This is ridiculous. Hot Summer Nights should be allowed to happen in the SUMMER and not worry about interfering with school pick up.

Posted by John Tanner
a resident of Danville
on Aug 30, 2010 at 12:48 pm

Oh, so the Holier than July snobbies think it is NOT OK to delay their gas guzzling lazy backsides a few minutes picking up kids on a Hot August nights, but it is Quite OK to have their Fourth July parade trample all over my ingress / egress and parking out front of my home here in downtown Danville. Let's get rid of both events then.

And why should the fourth of July parade make time accommodations for the church going clientele whenever it falls on a Sunday, to my detriment once again. Perhaps those that run the Churches should realize that the once-a-year 4th of July observation is MUCH MORE IMPORTANT than the weekly-if-not-more religious observations.
Church should defer to the parade.

Has anyone thought to ask how many of the HAN attendees comeback throughout the year for a Danville retail store, or what their collective awareness is of Danville because of Hot August nights. I am glad that Danville actually has something festive in the summer. The town is a complete bore, deserted to the home hanging geriatric and kid anchored velcro parents.

So easy to pick on HANs. Pick on the school district for starting classes WAY TO EARLY!!!!!! Get it back to Labor Day please.

I agree that school should start after Labor day. If more school days are needed then close mid to later in June. The weather is better later June and September anyway. On June 22 I was out and it was very cold. So closing school later would give families more of the nicer weather later in the summer. I hope the school district would consider this. Thanks!

Posted by Las Trampas reslk
a resident of Alamo
on Aug 30, 2010 at 2:49 pm

How about the twice daily backups by parents who drive their kids to and from school without carpooling and with much double parking. They knew beforehand and could have arranged for their kids to "Walk!". I think HAN and the July 4th parade are great and well worth the inconveniences.

Hello... Joe the town manager said they might push back the time for the event.. well part of the problem was staging the cars on west el pintado.. right next to the school...the street nor the parking area could not handle with or with out school... hopefully the town will notify us of their ideas and let us put in our 2 cents !!!!!!!!!

Posted by Danville Retailer
a resident of Danville
on Aug 31, 2010 at 7:13 am

Julia of Alamo is wrong and didn't read my previous post. The City Council does respond. Two years ago we went to them to cut back on the Car Show. They did, that is why we have only two. Now we have two shopping nights. They're good for retailers. The car show is not. Car Show attendees come, don't shop and don't come beck until next year.

What a bunch of complainers!!!!!! Geez, get a life. I was in that traffic and guess what...my life went on afterwards. Yep it was bad coordination and it won't happen again, but really folks put your inconvenience into perspective!!!!

Atta boy to San Ramon Valley High School. They posted the Hot Summer Nights info on their school website. And it's still there. I read it and avoided the mess. Can't speak for the other local schoolsWeb Link

Here's my complaint, since the first HSN, I usually met with friends at 3:00, at First American Title Co, and sat on the wall in front of their office to watch the cool vehicles cruise on by to their parking spots. However, not this year, for they set up two booths right in front, blocking most of our view and taking away much needed parking spots. Put the booths someplace else, not on Hartz Ave. Finally, lets give a BIG THANK YOU! to the volunteers for a job well done.

Posted by D. MILLER/DANVILLE CAR SHOW
a resident of Danville
on Sep 1, 2010 at 11:28 pm

To All the Citizens of the Danville Community and the Surrounding San Ramon Valley Area Who were Affected by the Car Show Traffic on August 26th, 2010:

I would like to apologize for any inconvienence The Danville Hot Summer Nights Car Show may have caused local drivers, due to massive traffic conjestion. This has never happened before, as we celebrated our 16th year. We have always produced the show with respect to all logistics and this has been the first time that schools were back in session so early in the summer and we unintentionally overlooked that fact. I and the car show production team sincerely apologize to all.....and we are very sorry for any toubling experiences.

During the course of the early evening, we recieved feed back from town officials and we immediatley took action to lessen the problem as fast as we could. Our oversite will never happen again. The Car Show Production team met late Thursday evening after the show, and we have put together a game plan so that we will avoid any re-occurrance of this problem---if we are permitted to produce the show again next year.

Although there are some who may not favor a "Car Show" in Danville, it appears there are thousands who look forward to this great family event every year. With the Community's continued support, we promise to listen to all constructive criticisim and act immediately to improve our "Hot Summer Nights Car Show" when ever we can.

Posted by Not happy!
a resident of Danville
on Sep 2, 2010 at 10:08 am

As a mom who encountered this traffic after passing 680, taking me 20 minutes to drive 2 blocks just to pick up my child from school, ... I accept and thank you for your apology. As long as the crowd is respectable to everyone, I think HSN should continue.

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